Porto Velho

Porto Velho in Rondônia

Porto Velho is the capital of the Brazilian state of Rondônia. The city has about 380,000 inhabitants.

History

It was founded in 1914 as a port on the Rio Madeira. Today it is a major point of Transamazônica. It lies at an altitude of 85 meters.

There are two legends that have grown up around the origin of its name: one speaks of a port, the resident because of there and known builder " Porto do Velho " ( harbor of the old ) was called, who speaks other from a collection point for the Brazilian army during the Paraguay war, after the war was only the name " Porto Velho ".

As of 13 September 1943, Porto Velho capital of the new " Território Federal do Guaporé " and then on February 17, 1956 the capital of the new " Território Federal de Rondônia ."

The city benefited in its early years by the rubber boom, because both the Madeira - Mamore Railway ( EFMM ) as well as various ship routes for rubber degradation in the nearby jungle led by Porto Velho, which the city came to a modest wealth. The railway line, however, is now closed. It was restored a 25 km long section for tourist purposes, but also this is currently due to problems with the old steam locomotives from Germany and the United States out of service.

Since the 1980s, the city such as the state of Rondônia target Zuzuges strong, especially from the Northeast of Brazil. Impoverished residents of the states on the coasts move to the inner states, where they hope to convert forest into plantations and thus to lead a better life.

Attractions

Nearby attractions include the Temple Mãe Esperanza, Mãe Petronilha and Albertino.

Climate

The average annual temperature is 25.5 ° C, the rainfall is about 2000 mm.